it was a cold but lovely and sunny morning. i decided to cycle the 10 k to the start just a littlebit outside the town where i life, naas. the roads where frosty and so a bit slippery. all the fields and the wicklow mountains where covered with a tiny bit of snow. a beautiful scenery.

when i entered the transition zone in front of the main stand at punchestown race course there wasn´t a sign of any bikes! i met rob (“triathlete´s cant bike!”) and he told me that they cancelled the duathlon and instead of going out for the run-bobsleigh-run competition there will be a run only race around the ambulace track. duathlon cancelled!

the weather turned lousy: rain, snow and wind. it got worser and worser. a good decision to cancel the duathlon. sp everybody got ready for the run and lined up in the rain.

the start pace was very defensive so there was a little lead group of 8 guys travelling during the first of the three laps. i hang in there and it was very handy to draft in the group as the wind got heavier and heavier. the first round was over and the tempo increased. i had to pay tribute to 2 day in a row speed sessions and fought my way to 6th place in a time of 38:37. nobody really knows how long the run was. i suppose it was around 10.5 k.

shortly after my finish it started to rain and storm again. i just got a very handy lift back home and went directly under the shower where i remained for 2 hours 😉

the first race of the season is just hours away.

í´m racing the first race of the local duathlon series, the Naas Wheelworx Dirty Weekend Duathlon, tomorrow.

this seasons training is completelly run specific so i wasnt working out on the bike at all. despite the missing kilometers i want to race. its the third year in a row i´m racing that duathlon. it is a nice and handy hard workout.

the distances are 3,5 km run on the red cross track around the local horse racing track and a bumpy 20 km bike out and back course followed by the same run again.

this monday runssel cinema shows a nice hill workout of ireland´s finest – alistair cragg. enjoy!

another training week is over.

my health is back in perfect condition and im in a regular training rhythm. with one rest-day (tuesday) i was able to cover 110 k this week.

the long-runs on the weekend were nice. saturday we went out for mountain running and did the “wicklow trail” race route. a stunning 22 K run through the mountains.

sunday shane, adriele and i picked the infamous bob marlay park to go out for more less “easy” 30 K.

my legs feel alright and im thinking of racing the annual wheelworx duathlon in punchestown next sunday.

a new toy in town.

just got a “balance board” today. pretty nice and simple gimmick for the strenght workouts.

back on the island after a 2 week christmas break in the “vaterland”.

training at home went pretty solid. the weather was cold but dry and often sunny.

i enjoyed running in the forrests around my hometown and got a good amount of miles in.

also i found the way to my local pool again… i wasn´t swimming for ages as ireland doesnt provide the same “puplic pool culture” as germany. im not a gifted swimmer, but i miss regular training in the water.

im back in training again. the flu was tougher than expected so i took a little break to recover completely.

at the moment i enjoy training back home in germany. its definitely coulder than in ireland but good fun to go out with old mates.

the flu was harder then expected.

friday evening i got knocked out completely and spend 80 % of the weekend in bed. this time i have to recover 100 % before i start training again otherwise the whole health situation gets messy.

this story must end.

illness is chasing me again. its the odd office work that affects my health all the time.

lots of people are sick in my company and i didnt get away. a sore throat is the problem and stopped my training for 3 days. its a pity. once im back into a serious training sheme something happens.

today i´m feeling better and tomorrow ill be going out for a easy run to start the system again.

over the weekend i was in germany to watch the VfB stuttgart – bayern muenchen match.

saturday night was crusaders x-mas party time. i got “honored” for “fastest club-member”.

unfortunatelly it wasn´t my running performance who got me my “trophy”…